The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-09
MODEL
pERILS OF ELEVATED ROADS.
Three Men Killed and Seven Wounded
on New YOrk's Third-Avenue Line.
A Fire BIockadcs the Track, and Passengers
Leave the Cars and Are Shaken Into the
Street Below by the Starting Trains.

New YORK March 8--A few minutes after
o'clock this morning an accident occurred on
the down town track of the Third-avenue ele-
waited railroad, at the Fourteenth-street sta
zion which resulted in the death of three men
and the woundng of seven. A fire occurred at
the tailoring establishment of Nicoll. the
aaor the Bowery, near Houston street
The elevated trains on the down track were
blockaded from Ninth street up as far as Fifty
second street All the trains were crowded
with people on their way to work. Alongside
the track is small platform leading from the
stations. and used by the employees. When the
o'clock train came to q stand-stiI between
Fourteenth and Seventeenth streets, man
named Patrick Mathews, of No. All East
Twenty fourth street, who WAS standing on the
platform of the third car, opened the gate and
got out on the narrow platform. He started to
walk to the Fourteenth street station, and was
followed by a number of men who were anxious
to get to their work. When within fifteen feet
of the station the train started. Mathews was
panic stricken, and supposing that he was 60
ing to fall off the platform to the street below,
he clutched hold of the man who was standing
beside him. and they both fell to the ground and
were instantly killed The other men became
panic stricken and jumped into the street.
The greatest excitement prevailed among the
passengers and it was as much as the train
hands could do to keep them in the and to
prevent them jumping from the train. rumor
was circulated that a collision had occurred.
The women in the cars screamed and tainted.
They were in mid air, and no restoratives could
be procured. At last the train was brought TO
the station and most of the passengers got off
and took the surface cars down town. 1t was
nearly o'clock before the blockade was lifted
and the trains were run on regular time. The
distance which the men fell is about thirty feet.
Policemen were standing on the corner at the
time. and soon they saw what had occurred,
sent in an ambulance call. In five minutes
there were six ambulances at Fourteenth street.
The dying and wounded were taken Immediately
to the New YORK. Bellevue, and ST. Vincent's
hospitals Hundreds of people gathered around
the scene of the accident Captain Clinchy was
on hand with squad of twelve men,
and kept the crowd back. The sidewalk
md street were covered with blood. The killed
were Patrick Mathews and unknown man
abous Eitv years of age; the third man is also
unknown. The wounded were: Gel. McCart
neY, iniured in hip and back; Robert Shoemaker,
back and leg; William Kennedy, back and side;
James Lyon, arms. back and head: Jose Gradan-
din injured in back ana ribs and general con-
tnslon; Emil Weller, injured on head, back and
side
The narrow platform from which tho people
1ell was abont twenty feet high. 1t is used by
the trackmen when on duty, and above Four
teenth street is not provided with handraiL
When the passengers left the blocked cars and
toek to the platform, the gatemen of the trains
offered no objections as they ought to have done
= raf 1nfS for fh0 llnf n
was composed wholly of men. There we're com
taratively few women in the blockaded trains
ana none. SO far as known. ventured upon the
'rack A long cortege Of men was picking It's
way slowly, when suddenly the train ahead
started up and began to move. The next one
ioliowed suit and a successive series or jerks
went went along the line up to the last
ualn. Each one of them shook the
rack with convulsive movement that fright
ened those in front and made they hurry ahead
rapidly to reach the station safely. Those be-
1ihd were frightened and grew nervous IN turn;
soome OF them were looking anXiously around
ior support, and bunch of dozen, moving In
single te, just below Fifteenth street. in sight
OF the platform, scurried nervously forward to
.atch gate of the nearest car, when the train
VI which II WAS q part suddenly started ahead,
ana nearly shook the foremost one of his feet.
sprngine back in fright from the moving
wneels, he crowded against the man behind him
IN IN the verge of the narrow plank-waik. From
oeio". where a crowd was watching the prog
Iess OF the promenaders In mid air, a shout OF
warning arose but too late. The man seized
wildly at his neighbor in terror of his life; the
latter drew back, but the crowd behind was
pressing The train was moving on the
sght Those further behind saw a momentary
punching Of the crowd in front, and then one,
TWO, half dozen were seen falling over the
suee into the street below, from which
arose frightened wall that turned
into shrieks of terror and despair as man
altsr man struck tho pavement and lay mangled
ana bleeding Then followed wild rush in the
street and wilder and more desperate one
aoove IN the air The venturesome pedestrians
caught at the gates of the train it passed. and
s.uhR with the grip of despair. 1t pulled MP and
vas stopped almost imm ediate.y The fright
."eu and breathless were pulled in and
,oo'n ION made for the others. In two minutes th,
plank walk was clear.
4, cc"h below in the street a scene of horror wa:
20 progress. The men had fallen in the middl,
4 = ths street, on the surface car track. In
bnastly heap they lay some motionless som,